An alliance between northeastern and southern commercial interests sought to
block the adoption of any aggressive resolution proposed by Western Senators and thus
prevent the further deterioration of relations between the two countries. Their desire for
peace and an amicable agreement was strongly driven by economic interests. Their most
vocal advocate for peaceful merchant interests from the northeast was Senator Daniel
Webster from Massachusetts.
Webster disagreed with Polk’s request for any notification
of termination. Instead he preferred delay so as to prevent the notification from including
any proclamation of American claims to the entire Oregon territory.
Polk’s annual address in December 1845 expressing clear title to Oregon and
referencing the Monroe doctrine had worried commercial and financial circles on the East
Apart from pressuring Webster to block attempts by Western senators to force
through a belligerent resolution, these economic groups also sought out the support of
Senator Calhoun to help prevent the United States from falling into war with Great
Britain (Sellers, 1966, 357). A longtime supporter of free trade, Calhoun also worried
that the execution of Polk’s recommendations on Oregon would mean war with Britain
(ibid, 363). Recognizing the pacific preferences of the Whigs, the British identified
Calhoun and his faction as the key to a peaceful resolution of the Oregon controversy.
If Calhoun could generate sufficient support from Southerners and then combine this
faction with northern Whigs, together they could block any Congressional attempt to
force Polk into adopting a more belligerent policy. Calhoun held regular meetings with
the British ambassador, Pakenham, apprising him of the progress of the Senate debates.
8
Some of his fellow Whigs felt that Webster was too heavily influenced by financial circles on Wall Street
and simultaneously risked the party’s interests by siding so strongly with Calhoun (Sellers, 1966, 364).
9
Pakenham wrote to Aberdeen on December 13, 1845 that the address “disclosed so completely the animus
with which the government of the United States approached negotiations.” He also noted the combination
of Polk’s message and news from Britain of new defense construction created a fall in the stock market.
FO 5/430
10
Ibid. FO 5/430. See also Everett to Aberdeen, January 28, 1846, Aberdeen papers, 43123, British
Library.
19
Convention